Silent Auction (Ends Sunday at 1:30) The Cafe, Books, Jewelry & Boutique, Linens, Rada Knives, Clothing Thursday, June 15 | 10 am - 6 pm Saturday, June 17 | 10 am - 6 pm Friday, June 16 | 10 am - 6 pm Sunday, June 18 | 11 am - 2 pm St. Peter’s Catholic Church Social Hall 70 Lady’s Island Drive, Lady’s Island across from PUBLIX
JUNE 15 - 21, 2017
WWW.YOURISLANDNEWS.COM
COVERING BEAUFORT COUNT
City to help folks improve property
SEA TURTLES are a huge part of the Lowcountry experience
By Lisa Allen
Property upkeep varies along Duke and Washington streets in the Northwest Corridor of Beaufort. Some homes are pristine, others sit amid unkempt lawns with upkeep long overdue. To entice everyone to make an effort, whether it’s home repairs or fresh paint, the city will reimburse property owners for some of their city-related permit fees. Fees under $50 are being waived, those $51 and up are being cut in half and property owners renovating more than one property wil get a 75 percent refund. Permit fees run about $1,550 for a $250,000 home. So far, less than $500 has been reimbursed, said Deborah Johnson, a consultant to the city for the project. But there are 12 applications pending, including two for new homes. The renovation incentives are atop other tax breaks for rehabbing long-vacant or historical property, or creating student or low-income housing. “We’re trying to be the catalyst for improvements,” said Mike McFee, Beaufort City Council member and chairman of the infill subcommittee of the city’s Redevelopment Commission. “We’re piggybacking on the Village Renaissance Project where we spent millions to update the streetscape in the area. It’s a great time to help people get things done.” The effort had an unexpected lift when a group of volunteers made a project out of the subsidized housing at Duke and Church streets. Lowcountry Master Gardeners, Clemson Extension, Scout troops and the Beaufort Housing Authority landscaped the intersection, painted a mural and turned a parking lot into a pocket park. Nearly 100 people helped with the project. “It was a huge success. Every time we called the volunteers, they came,” McFee said. The city also worked with Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority to waive some of the cost for new construction to lay lateral pipe from the main to the property line. The incentive program covers properties bounded by Duke, Washington, Ribaut and Carteret.
DID YOU KNOW... ggs Am her e m. o th e g n i y a r se on F ea er l tle T ripp a turtle heads into the ocean aft d Tur n Island a l s I . Photos provided by Fripp
By Sally Mahan
Tracking loggerhead sea turtles – reptilian behemoths that have been swimming the seas for millions of years – is like being a CSI investigator. You have to look at the small and large clues on the beach. Are there large, distinctive tracks that the mother-to-be leaves in the sand with her flippers as she makes her way onto the beach to deposit her eggs into a nest? Are there areas that stand out on the beach due to a large disturbance in the sand? Is there a big crescent shape in the sand? These are just a few of the things that the volunteers with the Fripp Island Turtle Team have to take into account in order to not only seek the nests out, but also to help protect them. Why is that so important? The loggerhead sea turtle is the world's largest hard-shelled turtle, topping off at an average of 440 pounds (the largest that has been found was 1,202 pounds). They also contribute in many ways to the coastal and marine ecosystems. One way is through unhatched nests, which are a good
sources of nutrients for the dune vegetation (even the leftover egg shells from hatched eggs provide some nutrients). As a result, dune vegetation is able to grow and become stronger. In turn, stronger vegetation and root systems help to hold the sand in the dunes and protect the beach from erosion. Most importantly, they are considered an endangered species and are protected by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, according to the Sea Turtle Conservancy. And many of these amazing creatures lay their eggs in nests on the beaches of South Carolina. Sea turtle nest numbers broke records across the Southeast in 2016, including in South Carolina, where a total of 6,444 loggerhead nests were laid – the highest number counted since the founding of SCDNR’s sea turtle program in the late 1970s. That’s still a long way from the federal Loggerhead Recovery Plan’s goal of 9,200 nests. Reaching that goal is difficult for various reasons. Untended fishing gear is responsible for many loggerhead deaths. Additionally, loss of nesting beaches and the intro-
• Loggerhead sea turtles are classified as threatened and are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Individuals that violate federal law by harming or interfering with sea turtles or their nests can be fined up to $25,000 and face up to a year in prison. • Loggerhead sea turtles were designated as the official South Carolina state reptile in 1988. • Sea turtles are revered in many cultures. Around the world there are numerous indigenous tales and legends that depict turtles as guardians or creators of life on Earth. In Hawaii, the turtle is a symbol of good luck and a Hindu
duction of exotic predators have also taken a toll on loggerhead populations. Janie Lackman, who has led the Fripp Island Turtle Team for 10 years and holds the SCDNR permit to do so, said that loggerheads also have numerous predators, especially early in their lives. Egg and nestling predators include seagulls, snakes, raccoons, and most particularly on Fripp Island, ghost crabs. Once the turtles hatch and make their way into the ocean, predators of the loggerhead babies include fish, such as parrotfish and moray eels. Adults are rarely attacked due to their large size, but may be preyed on by large sharks, seals and killer whales. Boats are also a
symbol depicts the world as resting on the back of a turtle. • Loggerhead hatchlings born on the beaches of South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida and Georgia spend the first years of their lives off the west coast of Africa. • It takes loggerheads 25 to 30 years to mature and reproduce. You cannot age a turtle and no one knows exactly how long they live. • About 100 species of animals and plants have been recorded living on one single loggerhead, making them an entire mobile, living, breathing ecosystem. Sources: SCNDR; Sea Turtle Conservancy
A baby turtle makes its way into the Atlantic Ocean.
threat. In Sanibel, Fla., five loggerheads were killed in as many days by boaters. One of the biggest issues is that very few of the hatchlings make it to the ocean, and that is sometimes due to humans. Lackman said that the mother comes out of the ocean to dig a nest about 18 inches deep See TURTLES page A7
We are. Accreditation
IN HONOR OF FATHER'S DAY George Miller was honored recently for his contributions to the community and to his family. PAGE B1
MUSIC TO OUR EARS Vic Varner has been named the director of a new music program at Beaufort Academy. PAGE B2
INSIDE Lowcountry Life A2 In Other News A3 A4 Business Health A5 Voices A6 From The Front A7
June is the beginning of Hurricane season here in the Low Country. Make sure your pet is Microchipped. It is an important step to being prepared for any emergency. $30 MICROCHIP SPECIAL W/ LIFETIME REGISTRATION CYAN-AOOO
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by AAHA means we’ve passed a voluntary evaluation of more than 900 standards and that we are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of care for your pet.
40 Professional Village Circle
843-524-4551
www.SeaIslandAnimalHospital.com *On Lady’s Island behind Sonic